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Ecclesiastes 2:26 – For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy:  but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God.  This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

 

Thought:  Solomon has not omitted God from his experiment.  He has found that God blesses the faithful with wisdom, knowledge, and joy in this life.  He has also learned that God brings retribution upon the sinner.  He takes from those who rebel against him and gives to the righteous.  However, the enemy of death will appear.  The blessings the righteous has received will be gone.  “This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”

 

Job 27:16-17

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon never leaves God out of the equation.  He respects and honors God, but he also looks at life in the most realistic of terms.

 

B.      In this verse, we read of two laws that men see as they live in this life.

1.       The law of equity.

a.       To those who are good, God gives wisdom, and knowledge, and joy.

1)      These gifts are not physical in nature.

2)      These gifts are intangible, but are the most important that man can possess.

b.      To the sinner he giveth travail.

1)      Travail:  this is the same word connected to man’s labor (See Eccl. 2:23).

2)      The life of those who are sinners is often hard and difficult.  This can be true even though they seem to live in the lap of luxury.  Behind the scenes there is turmoil and sadness.

2.       The law of retribution

a.       There are times when God takes from the sinners in order to provide for the faithful.

1)      When Israel left Egypt, the Egyptians were bountiful toward them (Exo. 12:35-36).

 

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:  and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required.  And they spoiled the Egyptians.

 

2)      When Israel entered into the Promised Land, they had walled cities, houses, fields, and vineyards waiting on them.  They were taken from the Canaanite tribes and given to the people of God.

b.      Yes, there are times when God rights the ship even in this life. 

 

C.     Even though life contains equity and retribution, it still ends.  The blessings and the prosperity of the righteous still come to an end.  Thus, Solomon concluded:  “This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 3

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.

 

Thought:  Life has its moments.  All men experience them.  Some moment men can control.  Some he cannot.  Some are determined by the decisions of others.  Some are determined by the providential hand of God.  Some happen in the course of natural law.  As we read through Solomon’s list of these moments, we will all have emotional reactions remembering when these times and seasons came upon us. 

 

Proverbs 15:23

 

Commentary:

 

A.     The opening line from the thought above is:  “Life has its moments.”

 

B.      Solomon contrasts 14 of these moments of life in Ecclesiastes 3:2-8.

 

C.     Everything has its season.  Everything has its time.  Everything has its purpose.

1.       Season:

a.       Strong (2165):  an appointed occasion

b.      BDB:  a set time, an appointed time

c.       Barnes translates the terms as “fitting time” (e-sword).

2.       Time:

a.       Strong (6256):  time

b.      BDB:  time, occurrence, occasion

c.       K&D note that everything as it’s “point in time.”

3.       Purpose:

a.       Strong (2656):  pleasure…a valuable thing

b.      BDB:  delight, pleasure.

 

D.     The fact that everything has its time does not mean that God ordains everything that comes to pass.

1.       When laws of nature are violated, things have their time.

2.       When events happen in our lives, things happen at those times.

3.       When we make certain choices, things revolve around those choices.

4.       When rulers do certain things, there are consequences to their actions.

5.       NOTE: 

a.       Many of these things are predictable.

b.      These things happen in the lives of almost every individual.

c.       Some of them we can manipulate and control.

d.      Some of them are completely out of our control.

6.       Clarke:  “God by his providence governs the world, and has determined particular things and operations to particular times. In those times such things may be done with propriety and success; but if we neglect the appointed seasons, we sin against this providence, and become the authors of our own distresses” (e-sword).

 

E.      Of the 14 contrasts, only one contrast is under the complete control of God, “A time to be born, and a time to die.”  Both man, and God through His providence, impact the other contrasts.

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:2 – A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

 

Thought:  All of us know the truth within these words.  We have experienced the birth of a child.  We have attended funerals of loved ones and friends.  Some of us may have planted gardens of either vegetables or flowers.  We remember planting the plants and we remember plucking them up at the end of the season.  We need to remember that the time of our birth has passed.  We now await the time of our death.  At that time, how we lived will be very important.  Live for God.  Live with purpose.

 

Genesis 21:1-2

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon begins with the beginning and end of man.

1.       There is “a time to be born.”

a.       All of us know “the date” of our birth.

b.      Once a woman has conceived, the doctors are pretty accurate in telling the parents when the child will come into the world.

2.       There is also “a time to die.”

a.       Since the fall of man, death has been one of the enemies of the human race (Gen. 3:19).

 

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken:  for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.

 

b.      The Hebrew writer echoes the words of the God when he says:  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die…” (Heb. 9:27).

c.       Men can intervene and choose the day of their death by means of suicide.  That, however, involves the taking of innocent life (See Prov. 6:9-11).

d.      Man has also learned to manipulate the day of his death somewhat:  exercise, a good diet, medications, surgeries, etc.).  But, regardless of how long life is prolonged, all men eventually die.

e.       Paul was a unique man when it came to death.

1)      He did not seem to dread it.

2)      In fact, he looked forward to it (Phil. 1:21, 23).

3)      He accepted it as a part of life (2 Tim. 4:6).  There is “a time to die.” 

3.       It is interesting that our gravestones carry these two pieces of information about us:  the time we were born and the time when we died.

 

B.      Solomon makes a smooth transition about similar experience in the plant kingdom.

1.       There is “a time to plant.”

a.       We call this planting season.

b.      Different things are planted a different times of the y ear.

c.       Different parts of the country plant things are different times of the year.  (NOTE:  In Florida, I can start planting at the beginning of April.  In Tennessee, they tell you not to start planting flowers until after Mother’s Day.

2.       There is “a time to pluck up that which is planted.”

a.       We call this harvest season in agriculture.  For flowers and plants, we simply say:  “It is the end of the season.”

b.      This is a time of work.

This is a time of hope.

This is usually a time of rejoicing and celebration.

Occasionally, it is a time of sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 3:3a – A time to kill, and a time to heal…

 

Thought:  Again, all humanity has experienced these contrasts.  We have had animals that were too sick or too hurt to help.  They had to be put to sleep.  On the other hand, there are situations wherein healing is the most viable option.  In like manner, some things just need to be torn down.  They are too run down and dilapidated to restore.  Too, there are times to build up.  Sometimes a few boards, nails and a fresh coat of paint go a long way.  Making the distinction between these various times of life can be difficult and heart breaking.  Healing and building up, on the other hand, bring great joy.

 

Jeremiah 31:28

 

Commentary:

 

A.     A time to kill, and a time to heal…

1.       Hearing the words, “a time to kill,” makes us shiver and twinge just a little.  We wonder:  “What is it ever a time to kill?”

a.       There is a time to kill animals:  sick, diseased, for food.

b.      There is a time to kill human beings:  self-protection, criminals, in war.

2.       But, there is also a time to heal.

a.       In fact, in our society we seek to do everything we can to heal before we kill.

b.      Medicines, treatments, therapies have all been designed to bring healing to animals and man.

 

B.      There is a time to break down, and a time to build up.